Neuroscience Notes | Guyton | COM-MMSU | JB Quindara & NAI Tabaniag of QQT

Cerebral Blood Flow, Cerebrospinal Fluid and Brain Metabolism

Outline
I. Cerebral Blood Flow
II. Cerebrospinal Fluid
III. Brain Metabolism

I.
Cerebral Blood Flow
Total cessation of blood flow unconsciousness; nearly shut down metab of
brain cells
Internal carotid and Vertebral arteries (base) Pial arteries (surface)
Penetrating arteries and arterioles brain tissue intracerebral arterioles
capillaries
Virchow-Robin space extensions of the subarachnoid space separates
penetrating vessels from brain tissue
A. Regulation of Cerebral Blood Flow
o 50-65 mL/ 100 g of brain tissue
o 750- 900 mL/min
o Brain is 2% of body weight
o Blood flow is 15% of CO
o Blood flow = metabolism
o Regulation
[CO2]
[H+]
[O2]
Subs released from astrocytes
i.

Excess of [CO2] or [H+] Cerebral Blood Flow

pCO2 = 2x cerebral blood flow
CO2 CO2 + H2O H2CO3 CO2 + H
H+ vasodilation of cerebral vessels
Lactic acid, pyruvic acid, and other acid that during metab
blood flow

ii.

Importance of Cerebral Blood Flow Ctrl by CO2 & H+

H+ causes neuronal activity depression
blood flow carries away H+, CO2, and other acids
Help maintain constant [H+] in cerebral fluids for normal
neuronal activity

iii.

O2 Deficiency as Regulator of Cerebral Blood Flow

O2 regulation during normal activity 3.5 (+/- 2) mL of O2
per 100 g of brain tissue
O2 supply vasodilation
pO2 in cerebral tissue of 30 mmHg (N: 35-40 mmHg) statly
begins cerebral blood flow
Very low levels coma

iv.

Substances Released from Astrocytes Regulate Cerebral Blood

Flow
Protoplasmic astrocytes gray matter astrocytes; large foor
processes vascular wall
Electrical excitation of glutaminergiuc neurons
intracellular [Ca] in astrocytes foot processes vasodilation
of nearby arterioles
Vasoactive metabolites nitric oxide, metabolites from
arachidonic acid, K, adenosine

v.

Measurement of Cerebral Blood Flow and Effect of Brain

Activity on Flow
Radioactive xenon carotid artery radioactivity of each
brain segment is recorded
Rapidity of rise and decay rate of blood flow through that
segment
Blood flow to each segment 100- 150 % w/in sec in
response to changes in local neuronal activity
Can be used to localized origin of epileptic attacks in
blood flow at focal point
Blood flow and neuronal activity can be ax indirectly by fMRI
difference in behavior of oxyhemoglobin and
deoxyehomglobin
Deoxyhemoglobin paramagnetic attracted by an
externally applied magnetic field
Oxygemoglobin diamagnetic repelled
The presence of deoxyhemoglobin in a blood vessel causes a
measurable difference of the magnetic resonance (MR) proton
signal of the vessel and its surrounding tissue. The blood
oxygen leveldependent (BOLD) signals obtained from fMRI,
however, depend on the total amount of deoxyhemoglobin in
the specific three-dimensional space (voxel) of brain tissue
being assessed; this, in turn, is influenced by the rate of blood

Neuroscience Notes | Guyton | COM-MMSU | JB Quindara & NAI Tabaniag of QQT

flow, volume of blood, and rate of oxygen consumption in the

specific voxel of brain tissue.

Arterial spin labeling ASL

Quatitaive ax of regional blood flow
Manipulates MR signal before delivered to diff areas
of the brain
By subtracting 2 images in w/ arterial blood is
manipulated diff static protin signal in the rest of
the tissue subtracts out leaving signal signal
arising from delivered arterial blood
ASL and BOLD imaging can be used together to provide
simultaneously a probe of regional brain blood flow and
neuronal fxn

vi.

Cerebral Blood Flow Autoregulation Protects the Brain from

Fluctuations in Arterial Pressure Changes
Autoregulation at 60 140 mmHg no significant change in
cerebral blood flow
In patient w/ hpn autoreg occurs to as high as 160 180
mmHg

vii.

Role of Sympathetic NS in Ctrling Cerebral Blood Flow

Superior cervical sympathetic ganglia (neck) travels along
cerebral arteries
Supply large brain arteries and arteries that penetrate brain
subs
Complete or mild transection causes mild to moderate
stimulation causing little change in cerebral blood flow
Overridden by autoregulation

Very high MAP Sympa constrict large and

intermediate sized brain arteries preventing smaller arteries to
constrict prevent vascular hemorrhage/ cerebral stroke

B. Cerebral Microcirculation
o Number of capillaries when metab activity is greatest
o number of capillaries in gray matter
o Capillaries are less leaky from glial feet and abut against all surfaces
o Walls of small arterioles leafing to the brain capillaries thickened in
pt w/ hpn arterioles remain significantly constricted all the time
prevent transmission of high pressure to capillaries
C. Cerebral Strokes Occurs When Cerebral Blood Vessels are Blocked
o Elderly 10% small arteries are blocked enough blockage stroke
o Atherosclerotic plaque > 1 feeder arteries trigger clot formation
o Hpn bursting hemorrhage compression of brain tissue
o One of most common affected Middle Cerebral Artery
o (L) MCA blcoekd Wernickes & Brocas Comprehension and
motor ctrl of articulation
o (L) MCA left hemisphere spastic paralysis opposite side of body
o Blockage of PCA infarction of occipital pole at hemisphere same
side of blockage loss vision of both eyes in the half retina on same
side of stroke lesion

II.
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Abnormality in CSF composition & pressure have severe effects on brain fxn

III.

Brain Metabolism